Mike Norvell's Florida State offers scholarship to four-star Notre Dame CB commit for the Class of 2026

Four-star cornerback Chaston Smith has been committed to Notre Dame since last month. The standout prospect from McCallie High School (Tennessee) received a new offer from Mike Norvell's Florida State on Friday, marking his first scholarship since his pledge to Marcus Freeman's program.

Smith shared the news on X, tagging Florida State safeties coach Evan Cooper, defensive backs coach Pat Surtaini and assistant tight ends coach Preston Brady.

"AGTG FLORIDA STATE OFFERED 🍢🍢@evancooper2 @psurtain23 @PrestonB49," Smith tweeted.

Smith is the nation's No. 259 prospect, the No. 17 cornerback in the 2026 class and the No. 7 recruit in Tennessee, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. His 2024 junior season was cut short by injury, limiting him to five games in which he recorded five tackles, two pass deflections and one interception.

Smith also picked up offers from programs such as Alabama, Texas A&M, Michigan, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisville. He is one of the six members of Notre Dame's 2026 class, which ranks No. 10 in the nation. Meanwhile, Florida State also has six committed players in the cycle, ranking No. 8.

Can Florida State flip Chaston Smith from Notre Dame?

Before his commitment, Chaston Smith was already a priority for Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, who saw Smith as a potential Irish standout. Mickens even compared him to one of Smith’s personal favorites, Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who declared for the NFL on Saturday.

“It means a lot,” Smith told The Irish Sports prior to his pledge. “I watch his film. He's a great corner. He's getting ready to go to The League, so that's a great compliment. But I've always got to just keep my head down and keep working.”

With Smith’s commitment, Mickens has secured a key piece for Notre Dame's future. Flipping Smith won’t be an easy task for Florida State, especially after the Irish's impressive 14-2 record in the 2024 season. The Seminoles’ next step will be convincing Smith to take a visit, which could shift the momentum in their favor, although it seems unlikely as of now.